Professor Carol
May Day is laced with contradictory meanings. Its present association with world-wide political upheaval dates back to the 19th century when the date May 1 gained a new nomenclature as an International Workers’ Day. Recognition of the pitiful plight of workers had long been desperately … Read more
Yes, children have a natural love for opera. I make that statement confidently because I’ve never seen it fail. When exposed to staged music dramas of appropriate lengths (two to three hours) with costumes, a modest amount of action, and an actual band or orchestra, … Read more
On a beautiful spring day I’m enjoying a rare moment of quiet while working on a book I hope will be ready by summer’s end. The subject is art and the text could be titled “How I Learned to Grasp Art After I Grew Up … Read more
Who’s my favorite composer? When I am asked this question, my answer may disappoint. “No one. don’t have a favorite composer.” If the questioner looks crestfallen, I hasten to add, “From my teens until my early 30s, I did have a favorite composer, namely Sergei … Read more
When one has deeply felt convictions, it’s nice to have them reinforced. In recent years, I find myself positively preaching about the blessings that pour into a family when the arts assume a central position in the educational process. Included in that phenomenon is the … Read more
Keeping one’s sense of wonder can be a challenge. Discovering wonder in the middle of stressful situations can be hard too. Yet, just as we are uplifted by cherishing beauty, so too are we renewed by dwelling in moments of wonder. Such a challenge arose … Read more
Podcast: Music of the Spheres and Narnia You may recognize Dr. Michael Dodds from our courses. He appears prominently in The History of Early Sacred Music and in Exploring America’s Musical Heritage. Michael has been a colleague of mine for many years, beginning at Southern … Read more
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Our interview with Dr. Michael Dodds continues. (Listen to Part 1 here.) We have a wide-ranging discussion of Michael’s work as a composer and conductor, the history of maps, composer David Maslanka, and more on C.S. Lewis. http://traffic.libsyn.com/professorcarol/dodds-final-pt2.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
It’s all about to start. Conference season, lecture season, tour season. In the past few days while organizing my talks, searching for lanyards and badges, retrieving adapters and connectors (plus the right clothing for different climes), I’ve had one pressing “seasonal” question badgering my mind: … Read more